Friday, March 11, 2011

You Know Who You Are - Just Keep Pressing Forward


This past weekend we experienced a dark and dreary snowstorm that was at times scary and uncomfortable - especially if you were out in it! When the weather is rough and uncertain, I always get an uneasy feeling. But like the weather this weekend, there was something else that made me feel ill at ease. The words of another person have hung over me like a bad storm. They threatened to cut like a knife - and leave a scar that would harm me more than the offender - if I let them.

At the beginning of the week, right before the storm hit, I had to do what I had done many times as a youth, not let an untruth about someone I love with all my heart, affect or bother me. Of course my first instinct was to fight back, defend my loved one and make that person who had attacked feel our pain. I wanted that person to know that their actions had been so harmful and that we had felt it. But they already knew that.

From my perspective, this person had knowingly harmed not only my loved ones feelings but maybe even tarnished their reputation? So what does a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend do? She puts her dukes up and fights - right? Well, if she is doing what she is supposed to be doing, she lets go of those bitter feelings and forgives. Why? Because that is what is expected of us. Hard to do, right? Right! But as I thought about this situation over the week, a favorite scripture kept coming to my mind. When I read Mark 11: 25-26 there is no doubt what is expected of me.

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

I never want to be in the position of having my Heavenly Father say to me that I have not done all I can to return to him and be the person I know I should be. I have no control over what other people do or say, even though their actions sometimes affect me. But I can do something about how I react. Through the gentle teachings of the scriptures, I have been reminded once again, even though it was an uncomfortable reminder, that I am responsible for my own feelings and actions, no one elses. I am comfortable with this and will keep pressing forward, because I know who I am.

4 comments :

  1. I'm sorry you had to go through that. It is hard to forgive, but I, too, am so grateful for the scriptures and the power they have in our lives! Love you and your family!!!

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  2. Good for you! Words cut worse that a sword, because physical wounds heal faster...and words echo in the heart.

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  3. If only more people would remember who they are. It is hard to forgive but you are a stronger woman for pressing forward. Your post reminds me of one of my most favorite books, "If Life Were Easy, It Wouldn't Be Hard: And Other Reassuring Truths" by Sheri Dew. We have trials and are tested daily and it all might be hard to deal with but it's how we deal with them that makes us who we are. In the book Sister Dew says, "Our mortal experience is designed to test what we really care about, what we really believe, what we really want to become, and how we really feel about our Father and His Son." You, my friend, are a great example of knowing who you are and what's important to you. Thank you for that example and for being you.

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  4. That is a very tough thing to do. It looks like you got a straight answer from the scriptures though, and that is so comforting. You are a wonderful person and it takes a special person to be able to let go of things like that and be the peacemaker.

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